Page 82 of Maximum
CHAPTER 20
Making Sense
Fleur
Jolene came to visit us with little Rose the weekend after we’d been to Dublin.
I was excited to see her because the American and I had clicked the moment we met at Liv’s and Charles’ house a few weeks prior.
Rose was the cutest toddler and had Atlas’ brown eyes.
“This one is a ruminator,” I said as Rose sat in my lap playing with a shape sorter toy in bright colors. Currently she was holding a block shaped as a triangle, trying to find a matching hole to put it through.
“I know. Even when she’s not playing but just studying us, you can tell her mind is spinning.” The love and adoration flowing from Jolene to Rose in that moment melted my heart. “She’s saying a few words, but I can’t wait until I can have an actual conversation with her.”
“Can you read her mind?” Maximum asked me.
“More like her mood. Rose loves the sound of Jolene’s voice and she’s curious by nature.”
“When we were in South Africa, Fleur was communicating with lions and elephants; it was the craziest thing.”
Jolene reached across the table and moved the shape sorter a little closer to Rose. “Yes, she showed me the article about the poachers when I pressed her for all the details about your trip.” Jolene went still for a few moments. “I’m sorry if it makes me less of a person, but there was something quite satisfying in reading about lions killing poachers and leaving nothing but bones and strips of clothing behind. I’m so happy that the police caught the ranger who’d helped the poachers.”
“Me too, but I’m talking about the experience of seeing Fleur in alliance with the lions. I almost pissed my pants the first time she walked out of the Jeep. You wouldn’t believe the way they accepted her. I didn’t believe in telepathy when I first met Fleur, but our trip changed that.”
With an elbow on the table, Jolene rested her chin in her hand and spoke with a thoughtful expression. “It’s fascinating to me. The concept of telepathy is often frowned upon among my colleagues, but there’s a brave neuroscientist from Oregon who risked her reputation by doing substantial research on the subject. She came to the conclusion that telepathy is real. If you read the evidence she presented, it’s hard not to be curious and excited about the hidden potential we humans have to communicate without spoken words. I’m very interested in exploring it myself.”
“I’ve tried, but I’m rubbish at it.” Maximum poured himself another glass of water.
Jolene watched him. “I’ve been meaning to ask you, how are you liking living here on the farm?”
He didn’t hesitate before exclaiming, “I love it! There are always people around and things to do. Fleur likes her alone time so often she’ll go to our room and read or meditate, but then I’ll play cards or go to the pub with the others. When I first moved in here, Noah and River were around, which was a huge bonus, but even after they moved to their new place, I’m still happy. I’ll admit that some of the workers are quirky, but they’re all kind people and great company. You can’t feel lonely here.”
Jolene smiled. “That makes sense. It’s how you grew up.”
“I didn’t grow up on a farm.”
“No, but you grew up in a large house where there were always people around. I’ll bet you had large dinners, card games, and someone to talk to whenever you felt like it, didn’t you?”
“Yes.” Maximum tilted his head to one side looking thoughtful but before he could say anything, Jolene continued.
“Maybe you missed that, and here at the farm you have a community. I always assumed that was part of why you volunteered at all those orphanages. You never enjoyed living alone in an apartment, did you?”
“No, I hated it.”
Jolene sat relaxed on her chair. “Exactly. That’s why living here makes so much sense to you. It’s like coming home, isn’t it? But without the cult experience.”
“I never thought about it like that.” Maximum crossed his arms and leaned back with his brow lowered.
“It makes sense.” I met his eyes before kissing Rose on the top of her hair.
“And you, Fleur, how are you feeling about Maximum living here with you?”
My smile grew. “I couldn’t be happier. He’s good at giving me my space when I need it and the others love him. Maximum has his own work, but I’m flattered that he’s starting to involve me.”
“Involve you how?” Jolene reached for the jug of water and filled her glass.
“By telling me about the orphanages he’s helping. Sometimes he even asks for my opinion before deciding which places to help next.”
